𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚒𝚛𝚎 | ∙𝐋𝐮𝐤𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐳∙

8. A Hanging Silence

Felicity feels guilty of the silence that hangs between them. She didn't usually talk about her past to people especially coworkers but it was so easy to talk to Luke.

"I'm sorry to hear that." He says sincerely after a short while.

"It's okay, I'm okay. It was along time ago. You know?" She picks at her food, her appetite had gone away." It's hard to mourn someone when you hardly got the chance to know them."

"Still, it must've been hard on you and your parents."

Your parents. His words rung in her ears. They had been so overcome with what they would call grief and Felicity would call guilt about their favorite daughter they had completely ignored her for the next few years. The only thing she was good for was being thrown around. That's when she had begun to act out to get some attention that wasn't physical abuse. And she got it but not in the way she wanted. But by the time she was a teen, they realized hitting wasn't enough to stop her. So instead of giving her what she needed at that age they sent her off to a Troubled Teen Industry in Philadelphia. Their motto had been "There's nothing that hard work and godly discipline can't fix". Turns out what they considered discipline, God would never do.

She shudders at the thought. She feels the need to change the subject quick or else she might tell Luke something she doesn't want him to know." This place is great." She says suddenly even though she'd only had about two bites of the food.

Luke seems to realize she needs a different conversation." Yeah it is great. So... any hobbies or talents I should know about?"

She smiles lightly, happy with his attempt to make the conversation brighter."I read, you?"

"Boxing. Working out." He answers.

"Nice, I've always been interested in boxing."

"I'll have to take you to the rink sometime." He stops, then continues with a smile." If you recommend some books."

"It's a deal."

The rest of the dinner is silent and Felicity is happy when they get back to her apartment. They enter and examine their handiwork once more.

"I think we did really good."

"I agree." Felicity states before grabbing two glasses from her cupboard and the apple juice from the fridge. She pours them before placing one in his hand. She takes a seat on the rug and he sits down across from her with a boyish grin. "We spent all that time working and you're not even going to try out your new seats?"

She winks playfully." I'm scared they'll collapse beneath me."

He laughs as he leans his back against the recliner. "Oh come on!"

She chuckles and takes a sip from her juice. "Shut up and drink your juice, Alvez."

He smiles." Fine, Chase."

"And another thing stop calling me Chase. Makes me feel a lot more professional than I am."

"Okay, Felicity. Or would you prefer a nickname?" He teases leaning closer, a mischievous look on his handsome face." Fel? Cici? Flick?"

She smiles in amusement."Flick? Oh gosh I hate that."

"Oh but I think it's perfect, Flick." He takes a sip of his drink.

She smacks him on the arm." Don't make me call you..." she's silent for a few moments." Oh man your name has literally no nickname."

He laughs." Good-"

"WAIT, I CAN CALL YOU LU."

He groans loudly while she laughs manically. "Oh that's perfect!"

He laughs with her and Felicity finds herself thinking about how she hadn't laughed so much in a long while. Of course she'd laughed but not the hold your sides and gasp for air type laugh. Luke was a great friend and being around him was the safest she'd felt in a long while.